Semi-indirect lighting device.



A. S. POWELL.

SEMI-INDIRECT LIGHTING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 3.1917.

Patented. .Ian. 29, 1918.

ALFRED S. POWELL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SEMI-INDIRECT LIGHTING DEVICE.

neaayrae.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 29', 1918.

Application filed November 3, 1917. Serial No. 200,209.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED S. POWELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Semi-Indirect Lighting Devices, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to so-called semiindirect lighting devices; and its object, briefly stated, is to provide improved means, for supporting a flaring reflector or shade and a diffusing bowl, which can be applied conveniently and securely to the usual electrio lamp-socket. A further object is to provide means of this character which can be manufactured at low cost. To these and other ends the invention consists in the novel features and combinations hereinafter described.

One form of the invention is illustrated in the annexed drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side view of the complete device, partly in section, showing also the flaring shade and the diffusing bowl in position.

Fig. 2 is a detail view of part of the bowlsupporting device.

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view, on a larger scale than the other figures, showing the method of securing the bowl-supporting device to the socket-cover or other part that supports the flat or flaring shade.

Referring to the drawings, 10 designates a socket cover in the form of a flaring downwardly open cup of sheet metal (much exaggerated in thickness) adapted to be seated down upon an electric lamp socket, not shown, so as to cover the same. An aperture 11 is provided in the top of the socket cover, for the cord or other support from which the socket hangs. It will be understood that when the cover is made in one piece, as 1s preferable, the socket must be detached from the cord or tube, from which it is suspended, to permit the cord or tube to be passed through the opening 11, after which the socket is replaced.

t a convenient point, preferably at its lower edge, the shade-supporting device 10 is provided with means, as the ordlnary finger-screws 12, for engaging the lnwardly extending edge l3 around the central opening of the flat shade 13, so as to support the latter in position, as clearly indicated in Fig. 1.

The device for supporting the upwardly open diffusing bowl 14 comprises a spht ring 15 of stiff sheet metal, provided with a plurality of downwardly and outwardly extending arms 16, formed of strips of heavy sheet metal of suitable stiffness. The arms are securely fastened at their upper ends to the ring 15, preferably on the inside of the same. The arms are offset inwardly from the ring, as shown at 17.

t a suitable distance above the plane of the screws 12 the shadesupport or socket cover, 10, is provided with an inner circumferential recess 18 into which the ring may fit. It will be understood that the diameter of the ring is larger than the diameter of the aforesaid recess. To assemble the parts the ring is contracted by pressing toward each other the two arms 16 which are fastened to the ring at or near its ends, whereupon the ring can readily be inserted into the socket cover 10 from below and fitted into the recess 18. Upon releasing the arms the ring expands snugly against the inside of the recess. The bulb (not shown) can now be inserted into the socket and the diffusing bowl put in place, the latter being supported by its outwardly extending edge projecting into the inwardly disposed hooks 19 formed on the ends of the arms 16. At any time the bowl can be removed and the ring 15 taken out of the socket-cover.

To eliminate the possibility of accidental displacement of the ring 15 from its socket or recess 18 by the weight of the diffusing bowl the ring may be provided, particularly at its ends, with pins 20, to enter openings, as 21, Fig. 3, in the shell 10.

The shell 10 will usually be of an ornamental character, and can be made cheaply by spinning sheetmetal. The ring 15 and upper portions of the arms 16 are concealed when in use and hence can be left rough. The shells or socket-covers can be made in various diameters at the bottom, so that flat reflectors having central openings of any standard size can be accommodated, but preferably the shells will all be of the same diameter at the recess 18 so that one size of ring 15 will fit any shell. Then in putting up the device for use it is only necessary for the electrician to select a shell that will fit the shade which he intends to use. The bowl-supporting arms 16 can be bent to accommodate any size of bowl within wide limits; though of course rings with arms of adapted to ing means .can be embodied in other 7 parture from its spirit as different lengths and spread can be provided if desired.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise construction herein specifically illustrated and described, but

forms without dedeflned by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A semi-indirect lighting device, prising an element in the form of ible and expansible ring 1n position.

' 2. A semi-indirect lighting device, comflopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each; by addressing the Washington, D. 0.

prising a shell adapted to surround a lamp socket, having means for supporting a flaring reflector or shade and having on its inside above said means a circumferential recess; and a contractible and expansible ring removably fitted into said recess and equipped with a plurality of downwardly and outwardly extendin arms.

3. A semi-indirect lighting device, comprising a shell adapted to surround a lampsooket, having means for supporting a flaring reflector or shade and having on its inside above said means a circumferential recess )rovided with apertures; and a contracti 1e and expansible ring removably fitted into said recess and equipped with a plurality of downwardly and outwardly extending arms, the ring being also provided with outwardly extending pins projecting into the apertures in said recess.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

ALFRED S. POWELL.

Commissioner of Patents, 

